C. BOSTIAN OVERCOMING
FEAR PT.5 Apr. 7, 2002
Some Practical Remedies
2 Tim 1:6-10
6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift
of God which is in you through the
laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not
given us a spirit of fear, but of power
and of love and of a sound mind. 8 Therefore
do not be ashamed of the
testimony of our Lord, nor of me His
prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings
for the gospel according to the power of God,
9 who has saved us and called us
with
a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own
purpose and grace which was given to us in
Christ Jesus before time began,
10 but has now been revealed by the appearing
of our Savior Jesus Christ, who
has
abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…
THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE THIS SERIES ON OVERCOMING FEAR
AND LIVING AN ADVENTEROUS FAITH FILLED ABUNDANT LIFE THAT IS BOTH OUR DESTINY
AND HERITAGE. GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A
SPIRIT OF FEAR BUT A SPIRIT OF POWER, LOVE AND A SOUND MIND. LEARNING TO OVERCOME OUR FEARS IS MADE
POSSIBLE WHEN WE CORRECT THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT AN OBJECT OR SITUATION THAT IS
THE SOURCE OF OUR FEAR. A SOUND MIND OR
A GODLY PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF A PARTICULAR FEAR WILL USUALLY
RESULT IN VICTORY OVER OUR FEARS.
One night at about 3am a guys wife was getting
up from the toilet to return to bed when she heard a little noise. It was a
suspiciously rodent like sound that seemed to be right in the bathroom with
her. She of course froze and listened attentively for any further sign of
invaders. After a moment, satisfied that she was alone, she took a step for the
door. Rodent scratchy sounds again! She froze in fear, not breathing. Silence.
Her heart beat fast as she once again tried to retreat from the bathroom. This
time the noise was accompanied by something touching the back of her leg! That
was, of course, too much to bear. She literally flew the 8 feet to the bed,
clearing the foot board by a couple feet, to land screaming by my side. This
is not a pleasant way to wake up. Scrambling into consciousness, now scared
half to death myself, I managed to get the light on. The culprit was right
there in plain sight, a trail of toilet paper neatly marked the path from bed
to the bathroom.
IN MOST CASES OUR FEARS ARE A LOT LIKE
THAT. BASED ON OUR LIMITED INFORMATION
WE ARE QUICK TO REACH A HASTY CONCLUSION ABOUT A SITUATION ONLY TO LATER
DISCOVER THAT OUR FEAR WAS TOTALLY UNFOUNDED.
SO IF WE CAN CORRECT THE WAY WE VIEW OF THINK ABOUT THE OBJECT OF OUR
FEARS WE CAN OVERCOME OUR FEARS AND PHOBIAS. POSSESSING A SOUND MIND IS VITAL
TO LIVING WITHOUT THE LIMITATIONS OF FEAR.
Prov 23:7
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:
Eat and drink, saith he to thee;
but his heart is not with thee.
2 Cor 10:3-7
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not
war after the flesh: 4 (For the
weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but
mighty through God to the pulling
down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down
imaginations, and every high thing
that exalteth itself against the knowledge of
God, and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6
And having in a readiness to
revenge all disobedience, when your obedience
is fulfilled. 7 Do (NOT) look on
things after the outward appearance….
THE WAY WE LOOK AT THINGS AND PERCEIVE THINGS IS THE CAUSE OF MANY OF
OUR FEAR AND PHOBIAS. NOW REMEMBER THAT
A FEAR DOES NOT BECOME A PHOBIA UNTIL IT BECOMES IRRATIONAL, EXCESSIVE AND
CAUSES YOU TO CHANGE YOUR CONDCUT OR BEHAVIOR.
IN OTHER WORDS, ALL OF US EXPERIENCE SOME FEAR BUT NOT ALL OUR FEAR IS
BAD OR CAN BE DEFINED AS A LIFE RESTRICTING PHOBIA.
Dave
Barry once said, "All of us are born with a set of instinctive fears--of
falling, of the dark, of lobsters, of falling on lobsters in the dark, or
speaking before a Rotary Club, and of the words "Some Assembly
Required."
SO, IF I AM PREPARING FOR AN
INTERVIEW FOR A NEW JOB THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ANXIETY OR FEAR THAT
CAUSES ME TO GO TO THE INTERVIEW WELL PREPARED. BUT IF THAT SAME FEAR CAUSES ME TO MISS THE INTERVIEW THEN MY
FEAR IS NOT NORMAL BUT EXCESSIVE RESULTING IN A PHOBIA. MEDICAL HEALTH PRO-FESSIONALS TELL US THAT Approximately 27 million
Americans, will suffer from an ONE KIND OF AN anxiety disorder OR ANOTHER THAT
RESULTS IN A LIFE RESTIRCTING PHOBIA at some point in their lives.
BUT PAUL TELLS US THAT GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A
SPIRIT OF FEAR BUT A SPIRIT OF POWER, LOVE AND A SOUND MIND.ACCORDING TO 2TIM.
1:7. WE LEARN FROM THIS VERSE THAT FEAR
HAS A SPIRITUAL ORIGIN. WHAT FAITH IS
TO GOD, FEAR IS TO THE DEVIL. THE WHOLE
KINGDOM OF DARKNESS WORKS UNDER THE CANOPY OF FEAR. FEAR IS LIKE A NEGATIVE FAITH THAT PERMITS SATAN TO PLACE RESTRICTIONS
ON OUR LIVES AND HINDER THE WORK OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN OUR LIVES. THAT’S WHY
WE MUST LEARN TO CAST DOWN A NEGATIVE IMAGINATION AND BRING INTO CAPTIVITY
EVERY WAYWARD THOUGHT SO THAT WE CAN FULFILL DESTINY AND OBEY GOD’s HIGH
CALLING on OUR LIVES.
Mark 5:1-8, 15-19
1 And they came over unto the other side of
the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he was come out of the
ship, immediately there met
him out of the tombs a man with an unclean
spirit, 3 Who had his dwelling
among the tombs; and no man could bind him,
no, not with chains: 4 Because
that he had been often bound with fetters and
chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken
in pieces: neither could any man
tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was
in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6
But when he saw Jesus afar off, he
ran
and worshipped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to
do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high
God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8 For he said unto him,
Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit…...15 And they come to Jesus, and see
him that was possessed with the devil, and
had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they
were afraid.
16 And they that saw it told them how it
befell to him that was possessed with
the devil, and also concerning the swine. 17
And they began to pray him to
depart out of their coasts. 18 And when he
was come into the ship, he that had
been possessed with the devil prayed him that
he might be with him. 19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go
home to thy friends, and tell them
how great things the Lord hath done for thee,
and hath had compassion on thee.
HERE IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF A MAN AND A WHOLE REGION THAT IS TORMENTED
BY FEAR THAT IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF DEMONIC INFILTRATION. THE PURPOSES AND PLANS OF GOD ARE RESTRICTED
BY A DEMONIC ASSULT OF FEAR THAT CAN ONLY BE OVERCOME BY SPIRITUAL
WARFARE. THERE IS A NEW MEDICAL TERM
FOR THIS AND ITS CALLED THEOPHOSTIC WHICH IS REALLY ANOTHER WORD FOR EXORCISM
OR DELIVERANCE. NOW AS A CHRISTIAN YOU
CANNOT BE DEMON POSSED BUT YOU CAN HAVE A DEMONIC INFILTRATION IN AN AREA OF
YOUR SOUL WHICH INCLUDES YOU MIND AND IMAGINATION.
James 3:15-18
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but
is earthly, sensual,
devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is,
there is confusion and every
evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from
above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated,
full of mercy and good
fruits, without partiality, and without
hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of
righteousness is sown in peace of them that
make peace.
"What are
fears but voices airy? Whispering harm where harm is not. And deluding the
unwary Till the fatal bolt is shot!"----Wordsworth
JAMES TELLS US THAT THE WISDOM AND THOUGHT PATTERNS OF SATAN’S KINGDOM
BEGIN AT A LEVEL OF BEING EARTHLY AND NATURAL.
IF WE OPEN OURSELVES UP TO ENTERTAINING THOSE THOUGHT THEY CAN BECOME
SENSUAL EXCITING THE EMOTIONS AND PASSIONS.
IF WE CONTINUE TO ENTERTAIN THOSE THOUGHTS THEY CAN THEN BECOME DEVILISH
AND AS PAUL DESCRIBED AS A STRONGHOLD IN OUR MIND. NOW THIS STRONGHOLD BY DEFINITION IS KNOWN AS A DEMONIC INSPIRED
PATTERN OF THINKING OR FEELING THAT PROTECTS SATAN’S ACTIVITY IN A PERSON, A
FAMILY OR A PARTICULAR GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION.
THAT STRONGHOLD CAN BE OVERCOME IN A PERSON’S LIFE BY THE WORD OF GOD,
DELIVERANCE AND OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY AN INNER HEALING OF OUR MIND, IMAGINATION
AND EMOTIONS. SO WHEN YOUR FEAR OR PHOBIA IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF DEMONIC
INFILTRATION YOU MUST SEEK FOR SPIRITUAL HELP.
ALL THE MEDICATION, PRACTICAL REMEDIES
AND COUNSELING WILL NOT ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS NO CURE
WITHOUT TAKING APPROPRIATE SPIRITUAL AND BIBLICAL ACTION. AS WITH THE CASE IN MK.5 JESUS HAD TO SPEAK
TO THE DEMON AND CAST HIM OUT BEFORE THE MAN COULD BE RETURNED TO A RIGHT OR
SOUND MIND. THE SAME MUST HAPPEN TO US
WHEN OUR FEAR IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF DEMONIC INFILTRATION.
THERE ARE, HOWEVER, SOME OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO TO OVERCOME OUR FEARS
AND PHOBIAS WHEN THEY ARE NOT THE DIRECT RESULT OF A DEMONIC ASSULT. LET’S LOOK AT THE APOSTLE PAUL AS A POINT OF
REFERENCE:
2 Tim 1:11-12
11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and
an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer
these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him
against that day.
THE APOSTLE PAUL LIVED WITH A FAITH AND
COURAGE THAT CAUSED HIM TO TRIUMPH IN CHRIST AND TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN PLANTING
MANY NEW CHURCHES IN HIS LIFE TIME.
THE REASON HE COULD OVERCOME HIS FEARS WAS BECAUSE HE BELIEVE IN THE INHERENT GOODNESS OF GOD
AND WAS CONVINCED THAT GOD WOULD MAKE A WAY FOR HIM EVEN WHEN THERE WAS NO
WAY. ALTHOUGH HE SUFFERED HE WAS NOT
ASHAMNED. THE WORD ASHAMED THERE IN THE
GREEK MEANS NOT TO BLUSH IN EMARASSMENT BUT TO PANIC AND BE AFRAID. PANIC BY DEFINITION IS A SUDDEN,
UNREASONING AND HYSTERICAL FEAR THAT OFTEN SPREADS QUICKLY. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE TODAY WHO SUFFER FROM
ONE FORM OF PANIC ATTACK OR ANOTHER.
Panic attacks, anxiety, shyness, phobias: Are
they running your life? Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent group of EMOTIONAL
disorders in the United States. Approximately 27 million Americans--nearly
15 percent of the population--will suffer from an anxiety disorder at some
point in their lives.Anxiety disorders are most often characterized as
having an element of fearfulness involved. According to Dr. Steve Dager,
University of Washington associate
professor of psychiatry and behavioral
sciences at Harborview Medical Center. these disorders come about as a kind of
impairment or overreactivity of the normal "flight or fight"
response. Although these disorders are CUREABLE, the majority of sufferers do
not receive appropriate care. Most often, people with anxiety disorders will
seek relief from the physical symptoms, such as rapid heart rate, respiratory
distress or nausea, and may not be aware or may not want to admit that there
are emotional causes for theIR symptoms.
THE Panic disorder is probably the best studied and understood of ALL
the anxiety disorders. It is characterized by repeated unprovoked attacks of
terror, accompanied by physical symptoms, including chest pain, heart
palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness and sweating. THERE ARE SOME OTHER PANIC RELATED ANXIETY
DISORDERS LIKE THE Generalized anxiety disorder, Obsessive compulsive disorder OR THE Post-traumatic stress
disorder ALL OF WHICH FINDS ITS ROOT CAUSE IN SOME FORM OF PHOBIA OR ANOTHER.
THE APOSTLE PAUL LEARNED TO OVERCOME HIS FEARS
AND TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL AT WHAT GOD HAD CALLED HIM TO DO. HE NEVER HAD A PANIC ATTACK OR AN ANXIETY
DISORDER THAT HE DID NOT FACE AND OVERCOME.
HOW DID HE DO THAT? WELL OUR
TEXT IN 2 TIM.1:12 TELLS US: “for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded
that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
PAUL WAS PERSUADED THAT GOD WAS ABLE TO KEEP
HIM SAFE FROM ALL DANGER AND A PREMATURE DEATH. THE WORD PERSUADED IS a primary verb IN THE GREEK AND MEANS; to
convince (by argument, true or false); by analogy, to pacify or conciliate (by
other fair means); reflexively or passively, to assent (to evidence or
authority), to rely (by inward certainty): KJV-- agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax) conflent,
make friend, obey, persuade, trust, yield.
THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO OVERCOME YOUR FEARS AND PHOBIAS IS TO BE INWARDLY
CERTAIN THAT GOD WILL PROTECT YOU AND KEEP YOU FROM ALL HARM.
1 Pet 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto
a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an
inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in
heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time.
Jude 1:24-25
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from
falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with
exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty,
dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
I Jn 4:14-18
14 And we have seen and do testify that the
Father sent the Son to be the
Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall
confess that Jesus is the Son of God,
God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we
have known and believed
the love that God hath to us. God is love;
and he that dwelleth in love
dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is
our love made perfect,
that we may have boldness in the day of
judgment: because as he is,
so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear
in love; but perfect love casteth out
fear: because fear hath torment. He that
feareth is not made perfect in love.
1.
Focus On God And Your Fears Will Disappear
This is the consistent message of the Bible regarding fear. For example when
Peter Walked on the water Peter’s fear got the victory only when he lost his
focus on Jesus.
Matt 14:24-31
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the
sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch
of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the
disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a
spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them,
saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and
said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said,
Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to
go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and
beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus
stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little
faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
When we loose our focus on god, fear
wins. 90% of all of our fears never
come to pass so why do we spend so much of our time thinking and meditating on
them. Our imagination runs wild and
unchecked. We need to pull on the
reigns of an overblown negative imagination and fix our thoughts on god and his
promises to us in his word. In Isaiah 26: 3 God has said "I will keep in
perfect peace all who trust in me, who thoughts are fixed on me!" We also
see the same idea in Philippians 4: 6-7 which says "do not be anxious
about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your request to God. Then the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
There will be times when anxiety and fear will
come into our lives it is then that we have a choice to make - we can choose to
focus on the problem and be overcome with fear or we can choose to focus on God
and are fear will disappear. Just
listen to these promises that await all those who choose to live and be in the
presence of god by meditating on him and concentrating on him throughout the
day.
Ps 91:1-16
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the
most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the
LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he
shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome
pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt
thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be
afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for
the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth
at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten
thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine
eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast
made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There
shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a
stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon
shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me,
therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my
name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in
trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy
him, and shew him my salvation.
IN THIS GREAT PSALM GOD GIVES US MANY PROMISES THAT CAN HELP US TO GET
VICTORY OVER OUR FEARS AND PHOBIAS. AS
WE DWELL IN HIS PRESENCE HE WILL BE A PLACE OF REFUGE AND PROTECTION FOR
US. SO THE FIRST WAY TO OVERCOME YOU
FEAR IS TO FOCUS ON GOD AND HIS PROMISES.
Ps 27:1-6
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom
shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my
flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my
heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be
confident. 4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that
I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the
beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble
he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide
me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up
above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle
sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
As David’S focus is on God he sees that he
really has no reason to fear. When he and WHEN we consider and think about who
God is and what he will do in our lives there is no real reason to fear. This
is why David asked the rhetorical question: "Whom should I fear?" or
as we would put it, "Why should I be afraid?" He says this because
his focus on God has reminded him of three things concerning God that are very
reassuring. First he says, "the Lord is my light..." Very often
troubling and fearful times are compared to darkness because we feel lost and
in need of direction or light during those times. If you’ve ever walked into
this sanctuary in total darkness there will be hesitation, caution, and
apprehension because you are fearful about making a wrong turn AND walking into
something. The same would not be true when the lights are on. It is the same
way in life, there are troubling, dark times in which OUR fear is increased
because we don’t know which way to go or what to do, we are in the dark.
David’s fear disappears because he has recognized that the Lord is in his light
in dark and fearful times. The Lord does not necessarily give David light but
rather he personally becomes our light - our personal guide through the
darkness
safely.
LET ME SHARE AN Illustration WITH YOU THIS MORNING. IT GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS: When I was a small boy growing up in
Pennsylvania we would often visit my grandparents who lived nine miles away.
One night a thick fog settled over the hilly countryside before we started
home. I remember being terrified, and asking if we shouldn’t be going even
slower than we were. Mother said gently, "Don’t worry. Your father knows
the way." You see, Dad had walked that road when there was no gasoline
during the war. He had ridden that blacktop on his bicycle to court Mother. And
for years he had made those weekly trips back to visit his own parents. How
often when I can’t see the road of life, and have felt that familiar panic
rising in my heart I have heard the echo of my mother’s voice "Don’t
worry. Your Father knows the way."
THE SAME CAN BE SAID OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER,
HE KNOWS THE WAY. THERE IS ANOTHER
REASSURING VERSE IN ROM. THAT TELLS US THAT IF GOD BE FOR US THEN WHO CAN BE
AGAINST US. WHEN WE ARE FACED WITH A
FEAR LET’S CHOOSE TO TURN OUR FACE AWAY FROM OUR FEAR AND FIX OUR ATTENTION ON
GOD AND HIS PROMISES TO US IN HIS WORD.
THE NUMBER ONE WAY FOR YOU TO OVERCOME YOUR FEARS IS TO FOCUS ON GOD.
THERE ARE OTHER PRACTICAL WAYS THAT WE CAN
CONQUEROR OUR FEARS AND PHOBIAS SUCH AS SIMPLE BEHAVORIAL THERAPY:
Simple or specific phobias have been quite
effectively treated with behavior therapy (Marks, 1987). The behaviorists
involved in classical conditioning techniques believe that the response of
phobic fear is a reflex acquired to non-dangerous stimuli. The normal fear to a
dangerous stimulus, such as a poisonous snake, has unfortunately been
generalized over to non-poisonous ones as well. If the person were to be
exposed to the non-dangerous SNAKES REPEATEDLY after time without any harm
being experienced, the phobic response would gradually extinguish itself.
behavior therapy sets up phobic treatment involving exposure to the phobic
stimulus in a safe and controlled setting. WE call this exposure treatment,
so called because the patient is exposed to the phobic stimulus as part of the
therapeutic process UNTIL THEY LEARN HOW TO OVERCOME THEIR FEAR. One simple form of exposure treatment is
that of flooding, where the person is immersed in the fear reflex until
the fear itself fades away.
Some patients cannot handle flooding in any
form, so an alternative classical conditioning technique is used called counter-conditioning.
In this form, A PERSON is trained to substitute a relaxation response for the
fear response in the presence of the phobic stimulus. Relaxation is
incompatible with feeling fearful or having anxiety, so it is said that the
relaxation response counters the fear response. This counter-conditioning is
most often used in a systematic way to very gradually introduce the feared
stimulus in a step-by-step fashion known as systematic desensitization,
first used by Joseph Wolpe (1958). This desensitization involves three steps:
(1) training the patient to physically relax, (2) establishing an anxiety
hierarchy of the stimuli involved, and (3) counter-conditioning relaxation as a
response to each feared stimulus beginning first with the least
anxiety-provoking stimulus and moving then to the next least anxiety-provoking
stimulus until all of the items listed in the anxiety hierarchy have
been dealt with successfully.
SO IF I’M AFRAID OF FLYING IN AN AIRPLANE I
MUST VISUALIZE DRIVING TO THE AIRPORT.
THEN I MUST VISUALIZE PURCHASING A TICKET AND PROCEEDING TO THE
GATE. THEN I MUST SEE IN MY MIND’S EYE
BOARDING THE PLANE. IF I HAVE OVERCOME
MY FEAR THROUGH THE PROCESS I CAN CONTINUE TO VISULIZE THE ENTIRE TRIP. IN SO DOING YOU ARE NOW PREPARED TO FLY
WITHOUT FEAR. REMEMBER, AS A MAN THINKS
IN HIS HEART SO IS HE. VISUALIZATION,
FLOODING AND SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION
ARE SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES. THERE
IS ALSO A systematic desensitization THAT can be paired with modeling,
WHICH IS AN application suggested by social learning theorists. In modeling,
the patient observes others (the "models") in the presence of the
phobic stimulus who are responding with relaxation rather than fear. In this
way, the patient is encouraged to imitate the model(s) and thereby relieve
their phobia. THIS Systematic
desensi-tization in a variety of forms has been commonly used to treat specific
phobias and, in some cases, can be achieved in a single therapeutic session.
Phil 4:6-9
6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray
about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank him for his
answers. 7 If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more
wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts
and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus. 8 And now,
brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your
thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure
and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you
can praise God for and be glad about. 9 Keep putting into practice all you
learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.
THE MAIN THING TO DO WHEN YOU ARE EXPERIENCING
FEAR IS TO TURN TO GOD AND TO PRAY.
PRAY AND ASK FOR GOD’S WISDOM AND GUIDANCE. PRAY AND ASK GOD FOR HIS PROTECTION AND CARE. PRAY AND TRUST IN GOD’S PROMISES TO YOU FOR
YOUR PROTECTION AND SAFETY. PRAY AND
BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL STRENGTHEN YOU WITH COURAGE SO THAT YOU CAN FACE YOUR
FEARS AND OVERCOME THEM AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE, IN BUSINESS, IN YOUR CAREER
AND IN YOUR REALTIONSHIPS.
